Question! If the GF100 is having problems ramping up their clocks..then what possiblity, if any, do you think they will have of any overclocking?

IF they manage a blistering 750MHz core and do pass the 5870 by this supposed 30%~40%, then what if that's all they can go? Maybe to 775 at maximum. Couldn't the 5870 be OC'd ALOT higher? I've heard of some doing over 1050MHz on air. ATI could even sell some speed binned chips that start at 950 or 1000MHz. Wouldn't this cut Nvidia GF100's lead down signifigantly? Maybe within 20% or so?

And by that time ATI's drivers have improved, like they have already, and cut the difference between them even more, maybe down to within 10%. Maybe ATI won't even need that 5890, though they probably will with a few months. 5890's may only be OC's binned chips anyway.

And IF NV doesn't quite reach their intended clocks of 750MHz and only manage 650MHz or so to start off then NV may be in bigger trouble than people think.

To be honest, if NV had these working chips at their target speeds they most likely would be out already barring some other technical problems. I don't think NV even knows the exact speed these things will be running at yet. If they knew at all..or were confident of even being close to a speed they would be flooding the internet with performance numbers(if they were 40% or more higher than the 5870). They would be doing everything to keep AMD from selling their cards and taking away their marketshare. This would keep those people that didn't want to wait..it may make them wait for Fermi with numbers like those.

Now if NV performance is about 20%~30% above the 5870 then it probably is best to not really say anything until they're released. Otherwise people will just go 'Meh'. Because we all know they won't be cheap when first released. So that would cause many to STOP waiting for Fermi and buy the competition right now. 20%~30% is not a showstopper so who will wait for that except for maybe the die hard NV fans.

Now, if the performance is 20% or LOWER than the 5870 then there is no doubt that they should not reveal any performance numbers until release...as this would be absolutely devistating and cause really noone to wait for Fermi. NV is not stupid, they KNOW ATI has something waiting to be release at Fermi launch..whether it be a 5890 or new performance drivers waiting in the wings. NV knows they need to combat ATI's show stopper as well.

All I do know is the longer the wait for the GF100 the worse for NV it gets. They need to get something out very soon. I hope for good competition and these are my opinions. Maybe others have the same views..maybe different, who knows. :-)